Stillwater Schools Levy: What You Need To Know

Like one-third of the school districts in the state, the Stillwater Area School District will have a levy request on the ballot.

District 834 will have three questions on the ballot on Tuesday: an operating levy, a capital projects levy and a bond for improving science labs an improving air quality at six schools.

For taxpayers, approving all three questions on the ballot would mean paying about $130 a year extra on a home with an assessed valued of $150, or about $268 a year extra on a home assessed at $300,000. Click here for a breakdown of the estimated tax impact of the levy based on your home’s value.

Even if voters approve the levy/bond requests, . That will take place from mid-November to January.

“State funding for schools over the last eight years has lagged behind inflation by over $1,000 per pupil,” “Yet despite the failure of state funding to keep up with inflation, state mandates and global competition continue to increase requirements for student learning. It is because of these facts that the Stillwater School Board is compelled to ask three levy questions on the ballot on Nov. 8.”

Levy 2011 Overview

• Video: Superintendent Corey Lunn gives a 19-minute overview of the 2011 levy.
• Video: Hour-long Episode of Talk of the District about the Levy and Bond Questions.
• The Stillwater Area School District’s 2011 Voter’s Guide to the Levy
• Pioneer Press: Even if Levy Passes, Cuts will be Made
• Stillwater Gazette: Turnout Unpredictable for Levy, Bond Election
• Star Tribune: Five Washington County School Districts Seek Levy Requests
• Oakdale/Lake Elmo Review: Stillwater Area Schools Seek Levy
• St. Croix Valley Press: Election Preview

Potential Budget Adjustments for 2012-2013

The district will adjust its budget by $5 million if the levy passes or $10 million if the levy fails.

• View the complete list of budget adjustments

Question 1 – Operating Levy

The operating levy will ask taxpayers for $1,465 per student—$468 higher than the current levy, which would expire—and would bring in an additional $5 million a year for operating costs.

• The Stillwater Area School District Details the Operating Levy

Question 2 – Capital Projects Levy

The Capital Projects Levy is a request for $980,000 a year to improve technology.

• Video: A 12-minute video about the capital projects levy for technology
• Stillwater Area School District Details the Capital Projects Levy

Question 3 – Building Bond

The third question is an $18.1 million bond request to renovate science labs and improve air quality at six schools.

• Video: A 14-minute overview of the building bond request
• The Stillwater Area School District Details Science Facility Needs
• The Stillwater Area School District Details the Bond Request